Freshman Week May Be Revamped

In an effort to improve the experience of incoming first-years, the College is considering overhauling the institution of Freshman Week, Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 said yesterday.

Gross said that the possibility of examining the Calendar of Opening Days has been in discussion since Associate Dean of the College Thomas A. Dingman ’67 accepted the position as the new Dean of Freshmen earlier this semester.

The Freshman Orientation Advisory Committee, a 12-person committee composed of administrators, faculty members, and one student, have been meeting this semester to examine the entire freshman orientation experience. The committee plans to issue a final report this June.

While there have been minor changes made to Freshman Week in recent years, such as the Sex Signals program introduced for the Class of 2007, changes within the Freshman Dean’s Office present an opportunity to reconsider how to welcome freshmen to Harvard, according to Assistant Dean of the College Paul J. McLoughlin II.

“Students form their opinions about the school they attend within the first six months on campus,” McLoughlin said. “As we work to increase opportunities for students already here it makes sense to look at the first six months.”

With the academic calendar and College curriculum undergoing revision, these potential changes to the first days of freshman year may mean a completely different experience for future first-years.

“Whenever you change a department or restructure, it’s a natural chance for you to question what you do,” he said.

The College will only have time to implement minor changes, if any, to the Calendar of Opening Days for the incoming crop of freshmen. If the committee recommends a major overhaul, the Class of 2010 will likely be the first to see the results.

But the freshmen entering Harvard this fall will most likely see a reformatted student activities fair, which may feature live music and a barbecue to guarantee higher student turnout.

“I’m very excited about it,” McLoughlin said. “It’s a lot more energy and a lot more of an event.”

The new campus life fellow would help coordinate the fair, he added.

A reformatted student activities fair would work hand in hand with a switch to online student registration, a move that has been in the works in the Registrar’s Office, McLoughlin said.

If registration goes online, eliminating the traditional jaunt to Sever Hall to sign in, administrators fear that the student activities fair, traditionally held in Tercentenary Theatre, will see a drop in turnout.

To guide its efforts, the committee is surveying the Class of 2008 online, allowing participants to enter a drawing for an iPod. Over 400 freshmen have responded to date, McLoughlin said.

The survey includes questions on pre-orientation programs such as the Freshman Outdoor Program, the Freshman Urban Program, and Dorm Crew, but McLoughlin said the committee was focusing mainly on Freshman Week.

Also on the survey are questions on social activities, academic advising, and faculty contact.

The questions also indicate that the committee may potentially consider shifting the length of orientation week, as well as changing placement exam schedules for incoming students.

McLoughlin said that the committee plans to host focus groups and will consider data from 33 other schools, as well from the National Orientation Directors Association.

Dingman could not be reached for comment last night.

—Staff writer Margaret W. Ho can be reached at mwho@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Joshua P. Rogers can be reached at jprogers@fas.harvard.edu.